Today I had to be at work at 11 AM. Now, up until today, I had been proud of the fact that I had perfect attendance at this job for the 2 years I’ve worked there. I was able to build up a reputation of being Mr. Reliable, and comforted the Directors in the fact that they knew that even if San Jose was hit by an asteroid or nuclear weapon, I’d probably still show up at (or whats left of) the tutoring center I work at, and put in my shift on time.
For one reason or another, my alarm didn’t go off. When I woke up, it was 11:05 :eek: I threw on my work uniform and rushed to work, I got there at 11:15 (its close to my house). As if being late for the first time EVER wasn’t bad enough, the center was PACKED with kids, and the director was rushing around because up until then she was the only one there I felt absolutely horrible; 99% of the time I actually get there 30 minutes EARLY on Sundays, and often help her get the center set up for when they open at 11. Also, I’m working on applying to be a director at this place soon, and I was hoping I could use my perfect attendence there to sweeten the deal, but now I’m worried that not only can I not use that, but being late might hurt my chances at getting hired for a higher position
I apologized to her for being late, and she comforted me in the fact that its not that bad for me to be late, since I’m super-reliable the rest of the time, but it still makes me feel bad and guilty that I screwed up.
Everybody has a bad day. I don’t think anybody considering you for a higher position will let one instance like this wreck your chances of a position in which you are more than qualified. Being 15 minutes late once isn’t like you called in sick three days in a row or anything. Just don’t let it happen again, work hard to make up for it, and show them that it was an isolated event.
Incubus, I think that those reacord breakers are a big deal only in our own minds. The people you work with know that you’re reliable and just one miss probably won’t even be noticed. Most people are so lackadaisical about punctuality that you may even be looked on with awe.
I felt absolutely horrible; 99% of the time I actually get there 30 minutes EARLY on Sundays, and often help her get the center set up for when they open at 11. Also, I’m working on applying to be a director at this place soon, and I was hoping I could use my perfect attendence there to sweeten the deal, but now I’m worried that not only can I not use that, but being late might hurt my chances at getting hired for a higher position 